The exact cause of hepatitis is still unknown. A connection to a corona vaccination can be ruled out. Children under 17 are the most affected. At least one patient died as a result of liver inflammation.
About 190 children around the world have developed mysterious hepatitis illnesses in recent weeks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least one child has died from such liver inflammation. In Austria, two children with liver inflammation of uncertain origin are being treated at St. Anna in Vienna. The exact cause of this wave of illness is still unknown. An overview of the findings so far:
Where did hepatitis cases occur?
The first five cases were reported in Scotland on 31 March. None of the affected children had known hepatitis A, B, C, D or E pathogens, Meera Chand, an emerging infectious disease expert at the UK Health Safety Authority, told the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. These cases are very rare. In Scotland, only four to five cases of hepatitis of unknown origin are diagnosed each year.
A total of 114 cases were reported across the UK over the past weekend, according to the WHO. Spain is second with 13 cases, followed by Israel with 12 and the US with nine cases. Other cases have been reported in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, France, Romania and Belgium, among others.
Who is affected?
Hepatitis occurred in children aged one month to 16 years. Children under ten were particularly affected, with children under five being the most affected. The vast majority of affected children were healthy before they became ill. Early symptoms included abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and jaundice.
The chair of the European Study Group for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Maria Buti, said her “main concern” was the severity of the disease. 17 children became so sick that they had to have a new liver transplant.
Expert Aikaterini Mougkou from the EU health authority ECDC also expressed concern. In his opinion, even more children with milder symptoms could be affected. “Since we don’t know the cause, we also don’t know the transmission path,” Mougkou said. Therefore, it is also unclear how the disease can be prevented and treated.
What causes have already been ruled out?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that rarely occurs in healthy children. According to Chand, there is no link with the pain reliever acetaminophen, which can lead to liver failure if overdosed. A connection to corona vaccines is also ruled out, as most affected children have not been vaccinated.
What possible causes are still being investigated?
According to the WHO, adenoviruses were detected in 74 affected people. These widespread cold viruses do not usually lead to serious illness.
In Britain, according to Chand, adenoviruses were found in 75% of patients. She suspects a combination of a normal infection with an adenovirus and another complicating factor. It is also possible that affected young children did not develop immunity to adenoviruses because they were protected from infections by corona measures such as lockdowns and the obligation to wear masks during the “formation phase” of their immune system.
According to the WHO, an “unexpected increase” in adenovirus infections has been recorded in several countries after the relaxation of corona measures. According to Chand, other possible causes are a dual infection with an adenovirus and the corona virus or a previous corona infection. In 19 of the 169 patients, both an adenovirus and the corona virus were detected, in 20 only the corona virus.
What can parents do?
Buti advises observing the recommended hygiene measures to protect against the corona virus. Children should wash their hands regularly. Pediatricians should also pay more attention to signs of jaundice in their patients.
(APA/DPA)